How to Knit a Pair of Valentine's Day Socks

* Women's Institute Petrol Home Grown DK Yarn 100g

* Women's Grey Petrol Home Grown DK Yarn 100g

* Pony Flair Circular Knitting Needles 40cm x 3mm

* Pony Split Ring Stitch Markers 24 Pack

* Soft Grip Fabric Scissors 25cm

* DMC Tapestry Needles Size 13 2 Pack

Download the PDF chart here

Gauge/Tension:

26 sts and 32 rows to 10cm, (4in) over st st on 3mm needles.

Measurements:

S M L XL

To fit foot size (UK) 4-6 7-8 9-10 11-14

Full Length (cm) 23 25.5 28 29

Abbreviations:

alt - alternate

beg - beginning

cm – centimetre

CC - contrast colour

cont - continue

dec'd - decreased

foll - following

g – grammes

inc - increase (ing)

In - inches

k - knit

k2tog - knit two together

mm - millimetres

M1 – make one

MC – main colour

p – purl

P2tog – Purl two together

P2togtbl - Purl two together through back loop

PM – place maker

Pu – pick up

patt - pattern

RS - right side

rep - repeat

rem - remaining

ssk - slip one st, k1 st, pass the slipped stitch over

sl - slip stitch

st(s) - stitch(es)

St st - stocking stitch one row Knit one row Purl one row flat, knit every row in the round.

tog - together

WS - wrong side

Notes:

WI Home Grown Grey (yarn A) 1 (1:2:2) x 100g balls ; blue (yarn B) 1 (1:1:1) x 100g balls 

Socks Make 2:  Knitted top-down in the round until foot which is knitted flat in rows because of intarsia wording.

Using 3mm circular needle cast on 48 [52:60:68] sts using CC.

Join to work in the round taking care not to twist the sts, PM to show beg of round.

Work in rib as follows:-

Round 1: *K1, p1 rep from * to end.

Work 19 rounds in rib.

Round 1: K1, m1, knit to end. 49 [53:61:69] sts.

Change to MC

Work 29 [34:39:45] rounds in st st.

Turn the work and work in rows across 24 [26:30:34] sts only.

Row 1(WS): Sl1, p23 [25:29:33] and turn.

Row 2: (Sl1, k1) 12 [13:15:17] times, turn.

Rep these 2 rows 12 [14:16:20] times more, then row 1 once more.

Row 1: Sl1, k15 [16:19:21] ssk, turn.

Row 2: Sl1, p8 [8:10:10] p2tog, turn.

Row 3: Sl1, k to first st before gap, ssk, turn.

Row 4: Sl1, p to first st before gap, p2tog, turn.

Rep rows 3 and 4 until all sts are used up leaving 10 [10:12:12] sole sts.

Gusset set up round 1, k10 [10:12:12], pick up and knit 14 [16:18:21] sts along edge of flap, pick up and knit one st in corner, PM for new beg of round, k25 [27:31:35] pick up and knit one st in corner, pick up and knit 14 [16:18:21] sts from edge of flap, knit to end. 65 [71:81:91] sts

Gusset set up 2nd round: K to end.

Round 1: K25 [27:29:33], k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.

Round 2: Knit to end.

Rep these 2 rounds 7 [8:9:12] more times. 49 [53:61:67] sts

Work in rows from now so intarsia section can be worked.

Left foot only:-

Next Row: K34 [37:42:46], PM, k7, PM, k8 [9:12:13] turn.

Right foot only:-

Next Row: K34 [37:42:46], PM, k7, PM, k8 [9:12:13], k25 [27:31:35] turn.

The new markers are the position of the intarsia wording along the base of the sock.

Work in st st working the wording from right sock chart for the first sock and left sock chart for the second sock, until the 44 rows of the chart have been worked working backwards and forwards in rows.

Next Row: K1, ssk, k19 [21:25:28], k2tog, PM, k1, ssk, k19 [21:25:28], k2tog, k1. 4 sts dec

Next Row: P to end.

Next Row: K1, ssk, k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, SM, k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 4 sts dec

Change to CC

Next Row: P1, p2tog, p to 3 sts before next marker, p2togtbl, p1, SM, p2tog, p to last 3 sts p2togtbl, p1. 4 sts dec

Rep last two rows in CC throughout until 17 [17:21:27] sts rem

Cast off.

Weave in all loose ends. Join toe seam and side foot seam with mattress stitch.

Block to dimensions given.